Schools

School District Gym Opening as Shelter

The Saucon Valley Middle School gym will serve as a shelter for local residents who are without power.

UPDATES: Saucon Valley schools will remain closed on Friday, Nov. 2. The Saucon Valley football game scheduled for 1pm Saturday will instead begin at 2pm.

The Saucon Valley School District announced this afternoon that its middle school will remain open tonight as a shelter for local residents. The school has been open during the daytime for residents to take hot showers and charge electronic devices.

Thousands of Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township residents are still without power in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, which blew threw the area with high winds earlier this week.

Find out what's happening in Hellertown-Lower Sauconwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

School district superintendent Dr. Sandra Fellin said dropping temperatures prompted the decision to keep the middle school open during the overnight hours tonight.

"With increased colder temperatures and now on day three of no power for many, homes are getting alarmingly cold," she said.

Find out what's happening in Hellertown-Lower Sauconwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We do not have cots for sleeping but if you wish to stay over during the night you are welcome to bring pillows and blankets or sleeping bags. The gym will be open and lit so do not plan on optimal sleep conditions," she added.

Fellin said that parents and children need to be on the premises together.

"Please think of friends, neighbors, and elderly who may benefit from this offer," she said in her email about the opening of the shelter.

The gym will remain open during the day on Friday and until 9pm.

As of 2:30pm Thursday, PPL's Outage Center map indicated that 737 Hellertown and 6,744 Lower Saucon Township customers were still without service.

A total of 7,820 Saucon Valley customers have had power restored since the storm struck, the map indicated.

A heated comfort station at Dewey Fire Co. Social Hall in Hellertown remains open today until 9pm for residents who want to warm up and power up phones or computers.

Shelters for Lehigh Valley residents affected by the storm also remain open in Allentown and Bethlehem.


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